San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-11-08
THREE ETON boys.
BY w. E. NORRIS.

for any information of interest that they
contained, they might as well have been
written upon the back Of a postal card.
1T is awfully hot here, but have got ac-
customed to it and don't mind. Yester-
day we were very lucky, killing two fine
tigers; but our average so far has been
hardly up to the mark" And so forth,
and so forth That is scarcely the kind
Of thing that one wants to hear from a
man who has quilted his native land in a
state Of bitter disenChantment and nissan
thropy, and who at the end of six years
ought surely TO be much better or much
worse than when he started.
Jim never alluded TO his misfortunes,
nor made any inquiry as TO the fate Of
those who had caused them. ! gener-
Ously gave him few items of intelli-
gence without having been asked; but he
did not refer to them in his replies, and in
like manner he ignored my representa-
lions that owners of landed property
ought not to be absentees for an indefinite
period. Once or twice he spoke vaguely
of coming home, but something always
occurred to make him postpone his re-
turn, until, as | have said, he had been
wandering about the world for no less
than six consecutive years.
Now it came to pass that one hot after
noon in the height Of the London season /
had returned to my chambers, physically
and mentally exhausted, after an intel
lectual luncheon party, and was saying to
myself-with very great truth and justice
that of all forms of social cruelty
luncheon parties are the most wantonly
malignant, when loud rat-rat, as from
heavy stick, made me glance at the door,
through which, after an instant of delay,
there strobe into my presence a tall,
broad shOuldered, brOnZed individual, who
had Jim Leigh's eyes and nose, surmOunt-
ing black mustache and beard entirely
unknown to me. The nose, however, was
enough 10 swear by; and / don't know
when in the course of my life ! have been
more delighted to behold familiar and
prominent feature. welcomed him with
warmth which hope was as agreeable
to him as it was sincere on my part, and
he smiled all over his face, quite like the
Jim of old; so that / freely forgave him
his beard
And now that you have come back at
last, you mean to stay at home, like a re-
spectacle English country gentleman, /
trust" said /, after | had made him com
Portable with an arm chair and Il cigar
and something cold to drink
'Wel-l suppose So" he answered,
with shade of hesitation. ''To tell you
the truth, Pm utterly sick and tired of
foreign lands, and | should like nothing
better than to settle down at Elmhurst
for the rest of my days"
'What should prevent You from doing
as you like, You can't mean that you
haven't got over the trouble that drove
you away YETI said |, for | Thought we
had better come TO the point at once.
II believe have got over it, don't
know for certain" he answered slowly.
''Let us talk about something else. Tell
me all about yourself"
So told him all about myself, and his
observations upon my literary achieve
ments were tiattering and discriminating,
though think he was little bit nervous
lest should ask him whether he had read
my works. Then he went on TO speak Of
friends of former years.
''POOr old Lord Staines is still alive, |
hear" he remarked.
'Hc is still alive replied, ''and not
likely to die, so far as | know: but you
would hardly recognize him. On sunny
mornings one meets him in bath chair
in the park, with Lady Mildred walking
beside him. He doesn't talk much nova
days, but he likes to see people, and he
seems to he quite happy when he is al
lowed to have his little grandson with
him. | told you that he was rcCOnciled
with the BracknClls long agO?''
jim nodded. "And how do they get
on he inquired, asking the question
with something of an effort.
"Mauy people are curious to know" |
answered. THAT is, if yOu mean, how
Il
are said to get on together rather indiffer-
emily. On the other hand, they have got
on in society with a success which leaves
nothing. or very little, To be desired.
Lady Bracknell has climbed to the very
top of the tree, and sits there in graceful
attitude to be CAPPED at by a multitude of
admirers. She likes admiration, as you
will remember, and takes some pains to
obtain L. She is very accessible, too, in
spite Of her brilliant position and if you
will go and call uPon her in Wilton place
l am sure she will be glad to see you, and
will begin exercising her destinations upon
you without loss of time"
"Don'tr' said Jim.
But went on all the same. "You had
better call upon her; l don't think she
will fasCinate you, my dear Jim. Her
hair has changed color; it is a lovely
bronze now, but her complexion requires
no aid from art. She dresses eXQuisitely:
she is addicted to private thcatriCas, and
once or twice in the season sic makes her
father-in-law give ball AM receives his
guests for him, so that Lady Mildred may
be free to remain by his Stle in case he
should want anything. Wien he snubs
her, as he does every now nd again, she
won't allow him to see lit e Lord Sun
ming for a day or two Tn brings him
to his bearings, and he has - 90 round to
Wilton place in his bath Oh if and apollo
gize."
IL don't want to hear aboIt her." said
Jim. He added presently: Il suppose
you sometimes see Bracknel' don't you?'
replied that | did A. a matter of
fact, | had latterly been a God deal in
Wilton place, because am redited with
a certain facility for drilling amateur ac-
tors, and Lady BraCkuell had found me
useful in helping her TO arrange the plays
with which she was wont to entertain dis
tinguished audiences from time to time.
81 wonder" said Jim, whether he ever
feels sorry for having treated me as he
did We used to be friends, you know,
and-and don't think he can quite have
realized what an injury he was doing
me"
That seemed likely enough; but was
unable to say that had observed any
signs of an awakened conscience in Brack-
nell II know exactly what will happen"
j remarked. "You will be as great
friends as ever by the end of the week.
and before fortnight is over he will have
borrowed sum of money from you which
may probably be represented by four fig
ures What is the use of your trying to
hear malice Iimg Nnm nmnht tn hnra